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Press Release: WFSGI fosters relations with UNESCO Back To Main

The WFSGI has officially become a member of the Permanent Consultative Councile (PPC) to UNESCO’s Intergovernamental Committee for Physical Education and Sport (CIGEPS).

As the world authoritative body for the sporting goods industry, the WFSGI will cooperate with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) towards access to sport as a fundamental right for all, promoting investment in physical education and sport programmes and preserving the integrity of sport. “The WFSGI sees its competences mainly within the promotion of investment in Sport and Physical Education Programmes with the sub-topics piloting guidelines and tools for quality Physical Education, advocacy for increased public investments in sport and Physical Education programmes and review of the conditions of bidding for and hosting major sport events”, says Robbert de Kock, Secretary General of the WFSGI.

What is CIGEPS?
The Intergovernmental Committee for Physical Education and Sport (CIGEPS) was established in 1978 to promote the role and value of sport and its inclusion in public policy. CIGEPS is comprised of expert representatives in the field of physical education and sport from 18 UNESCO Member States, each elected by UNESCO’s General Conference for a four year term. The Permanent Consultative Council (PCC), comprising key sport federations, UN agencies and NGOs, provides technical support and advice to the Committee. Among others the following organisations are represented in the PCC: International Olympic Committee (IOC), International Paralympic Committee (IPC), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), UNICEF, United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace (UNOSDP), Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and many others.

What is the potential of CIGEPS?
Through CIGEPS, UNESCO has a unique ability to drive government action in the field of sport and physical education and to ensure the implementation of effective sport policies and programmes around the world. Due to its intergovernmental nature, CIGEPS has the potential to bring Member States together and to engage governments in coordinated international efforts to optimize the tangible socio-economic benefits of sport and physical education programmes and their potential to deliver a high return on investment.
CIGEPS:

• engages government representatives and the sports movement to drive international efforts in the area of sport and physical education
• provides technical advice, commissions research and identifies good practices to develop policy recommendations
• reinforces accountability of governments through the monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of policies
• provides a platform for key decision-makers to exchange experiences.

“Considering the profile and expertise of the WFSGI, we anticipate significant added value in terms of the WFSGI’s formalized engagement with CIGEPS, as well as significant contributions to addressing issues of key concern and incluencing related public policy in the sport arena”, says Philippe Quéau, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General a.i. Sector for Social and Human Sciences.

About the WFSGI
Global solutions through international teamwork – The World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI) was founded in 1978 and is the world authoritative body for the sports industry officially recognized by the IOC as the industry representative within the Olympic family. The WFSGI is an independent, non-profit and non-governmental association formed by sports brands, manufacturers, suppliers, retailers, national federations and other sporting goods industry related businesses. The WFSGI plays a strategic role in the support and promotion of the sporting goods industry worldwide. The WFSGI promotes free and fair trade and provides platforms for the intergovernmental cooperation with regards to the International Organizations interested or affected by sports. Its aim is also to expand the cooperation on the protection of intellectual property rights and improve human rights issues related to working conditions. All this can be done through contacts with International Organizations such as the ILO, WTO, WHO, UN but also through International Sports Federations (FIFA, IAAF, FIVB, etc.) and the IOC, via the exchange of information and clearing house on issues and topics developed by WFSGI’s various committees.